Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks during a press conference at Los Angeles city hall regarding NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's banning of Donald Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers or the NBA April 29, 2014.(Andy Holzman/Los Angeles Daily News)

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joined a chorus of local leaders in speaking out against Shelly Sterling’s ownership in the Clippers, even as some sports experts questioned whether political pressure to oust her could backfire.

Speaking to reporters at City Hall Friday, Garcetti said the Sterling family’s continued ownership in the team would mean ongoing “chaos” for the franchise and suggested Shelly Sterling shouldn’t continue on as a co-owner.

“We need to make a clean break, I think,” Garcetti said. “It’s clear to me that we need to have ownership that reflects the values of Los Angeles. As long as there is ownership in the Sterling family, there are fans, sponsors and players who will stay away.”

The mayor’s remarks come days after the wife of Donald Sterling announced her intention to retain a stake in the Clippers, prompting concern from local leaders. Los Angeles Police Commission president Steve Soboroff said she was too heavily associated with her husband’s actions, stating: “The Sterlings need to go away.” Several Los Angeles City Council members also publicly questioned her continued role with the team.

Donald Sterling was caught on tape making racist comments in a scandal that broke two weeks ago. He has largely stayed out of the public eye since being banned for life from the NBA by Commissioner Adam Silver.

Since then, the NBA hasn’t weighed in on the role of Shelly Sterling, who is a part owner in the team. At his press conference, it was noted that no decisions had been made yet on other Sterling family members in terms of ownership, with Silver saying, “The ruling applies specifically to Donald Sterling and Donald Sterling’s conduct only.”

Critics of Shelly Sterling’s push to stay on with the Clippers pointed to several discrimination lawsuits involving the Sterlings’ rental properties, where Shelly is named alongside her husband. She is alleged to have also made racist remarks in one lawsuit, which she denies.

A comment from Shelly Sterling on Friday wasn’t immediately available.

On Thursday, Shelly Sterling’s attorney Pierce O’Donnell, released a statement defending his client, saying her detractors were basing their claims on “allegations and rumors.”

“Mrs. Sterling has made it clear that she abhors the attitudes reflected in her estranged husband’s recent remarks and that she supports the NBA’s decision to ban him for life.”

Sports marketing expert Marc Ganis said he believes politicians are speaking out to put pressure on Shelly Sterling to sell in part because the NBA may not have any legal right to force her out. Donald Sterling may been recorded making racist remarks to a woman, V. Stiviano, but Shelly Sterling “hasn’t done anything wrong,” he said.

Advertisement

Ganis questioned whether some women’s rights groups would criticize the notion that “wives, or even estranged wives, are responsible for what their husband has done. I can’t help but think that this intense pressure on her could backfire, that people will say, ‘You shouldn’t tar the wife with the sins of the husband.’ ”